Cam belts - lots of pictures

[Blah blah]

After years of having some one down the road who'd collect my old Monster, do the belts, oil and filters and return it for a pittance, I moved 300 miles away.

Now, having just bought a new 900 and not knowing anyone similar in the area, and he won't travel this far unless he's on his holidays (I did ask !) I've decided to bite the bullet and do them my self.

There is some good information on here, and armed with a couple you tube clips and a Haynes manual I decided to have a go myself...

There are lots of pictures as I wanted to have something to refer to when it went t*ts up :fou:

Goodies from the post man
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100006.jpg
The bike all expectant
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100007.jpg
First problem... I've lent my plug spanner to another mate who also now lives 300 miles away.:hissy:
Still, no bother the front plug was only finger tight anyway :eyepopping: I hope it has only worked loose rather than stripped the threadshttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100008.jpg
Belt covers off. To help I removed the oil switch and loosened the pipe clamp holding the carb overflows. Please be aware that I hadn't aligned the marks on the pulleys on this photo, and I don't appear to have taken one with them all lined up (sorry)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100010.jpg
Check the front pulley, yellow dot lines up with the pimple on the cases, same with the middle and top ones
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100011.jpg

[Blah blah]

Check the middle pulley, lines err line up. I have slackened the belt of in this pic, but you get the idea. The adjusters were quite tight and after lots of swear words and skinned knuckles both were loose.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100012.jpg
And the top pulley, same again
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100013.jpg
A quick comparison between old and new, and the old look older than 2 years...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100015.jpg
Right, now for the fun part. As seen on You tube, the top pulley can suddenly rotate, which is a bit worrying to say the least. However, do not panic. I rotated it back the way it had turned, several times as it kept slipping the other way as my blood pressure rose. I found it easier to put the belt on the 'main' pulley before trying to connect the top. And back on...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100016.jpg
The front one was a bit easier as it didn't move, but checking that it all lines back up.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100017.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100018.jpg

[Blah blah]

After checking the tension with the allen key method, 6mm doesn't go through between the belt and the pulley but a 5mm does on the horizontal, 6mm on the vertical,
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100019.jpg

All was well. I then used the back wheel in 'top' to turn the engine over slowly to ensure that everything turned, nothing hit and the marks returned to their correct positions. Which they did !

As it was then 9:30 and the front plug was once again only finger tight, my Monster returned to its usual position. (excuse the mess)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/Cam%20Belts/P7100020.jpg

I am not the most mechanically minded person, but this took me just over an hour, and the photos helped and were a good reference. Judging by the state of the plugs, the next thing on the list is a service (my wife is soooo happy).

And I've still not ridden it !!

[urbanfireblade]

It's funny how many people are scared of doing this job, it's really straight forward. Nice pics btw, nice bike too!
My '01 M600 I has cutouts in the back of the pulleys you screw a bolt into to lock the pulley in position.

[cactus]

Well done, very straightforwardly explained and informative. :thumbsup:

[Blah blah]

I'd never done this before, and was a little bit worried so say the least, but it was easier than I had thought.

I couldn't find any detailed pictures anywhere else, and how many people have the liberty of dropping the engine out and putting it on a work bench in a large, empty workshop? So I thought I'd do some real world photos and stick them on here, so that they may help some one else.

... Nice pics btw, nice bike too!


Thanks, but looks can be deceiving, and the pictures do flatter it somewhat.

[LVC]

Nice and detailed info there - thx.

Where did you order the belts from and how much where they? Thinking about doing this on my S4 as it's well over due :(

[Blah blah]

Nice and detailed info there - thx.

Where did you order the belts from and how much where they? Thinking about doing this on my S4 as it's well over due :(

Got mine of fleabay, through GTec, £44 for the pair

[LVC]

Got mine of fleabay, through GTec, £44 for the pair

Ignore my PM "Blah blah" I've found Gtec on the bay :flamed:

Why does the price go up to £90 for a 916 engine :hissy: looks like http://www.gothamcycles.com at £76 inc. postage is the winner :biggrin: